Sankwasa rejects call to remove Uukwambi chief

Urban and rural development minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa has declined a request from a concerned citizen to revoke the designation of Chief Herman Ndilimani Iipumbu of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority, saying he has no legal authority to do so.In a letter to Tangy Mike Tshilongo, a member of the Uukwambi community, Sankwasa acknowledged receipt of a 25 July petition but stressed that only members of a traditional authority have the power to remove their leader.The leadership dispute has reignited longstanding tensions over the legitimacy of traditional leadership in the Uukwambi community, with a group led by Tshilongo fighting to dethrone Iipumbu, claiming he is not from the royal family.Sankwasa cited Section 8 of the Traditional Authorities Act of 2000, which empowers traditional authority members to remove a chief or head of a traditional authority, provided there are sufficient reasons and proof. Sankwasa emphasised that government has no unilateral power in such matters.He further noted that Iipumbu has been at the helm of the traditional authority for more than five decades and that no justifiable grounds for his removal had been presented.“I refrain from entertaining your idea to remove Chief Iipumbu from chieftaincy for the reasons cited above and to avoid unnecessary tribal instability,” Sankwasa wrote on 3 September.Just this week, during the opening of the 26th annual meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders at Ondangwa on Monday, Sankwasa criticised disputes within traditional authorities, particularly leadership battles that end up in court. He described such cases as “divisive tactics” that threaten unity and stability in the country.Not backing downHowever, Tshilongo dismissed the minister’s stance as contradictory and legally unsound. In a detailed written response to Namibian Sun on Wednesday, he argued that Section 8 of the Act imposes a statutory duty on the minister to revoke recognition if a designation is unlawful or irregular.“The minister has only succeeded in contradicting himself. On the one hand, he claims he does not have the power to remove Herman Ndilimani Iipumbu. On the other hand, Section 8 places a clear and mandatory duty on him to revoke recognition when designation was unlawful, irregular, or in contravention of the law,” Tshilongo argued.He further rejected the minister’s reasoning, saying his request had clearly demonstrated that Chief Iipumbu’s designation and recognition violated both customary law and statutory procedure. Tshilongo added that the excuse of preventing tribal instability was “weak and dangerous”.“Instability does not come from enforcing the law; it comes from allowing illegitimacy and impunity to fester. By sheltering an imposter in the name of ‘stability’, the minister is insulting the intelligence of the Uukwambi people, undermining customary law, and violating statutory obligations,” he charged.Tshilongo warned that if the minister failed to act, he would approach the High Court to compel him to revoke Iipumbu’s recognition.“This is not a favour I am asking – it is the minister’s job. This is not a threat – it is a lawful, constitutional, and moral obligation that I will enforce. I am unapologetic. I am unwavering. I stand for the law, for the people, and for justice,” he said.

Sankwasa rejects call to remove Uukwambi chief

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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Sankwasa rejects call to remove Uukwambi chief

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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